For many, a cake on their birthday is a given. However, for others, it’s a quiet luxury that they are unable to attain.
Recognizing this unfortunate reality, Cake4Kids — a national organization with a Fairfax County chapter founded by Mary Campbell in 2019 — seeks to make birthday cakes accessible for all.
According to Campbell, her Cake4Kids chapter makes and delivers free custom cakes for major celebratory events, including birthdays, graduations, adoptions, and academic achievements, to people aged 1-24 throughout Northern Virginia. Popular cake themes include Disney, Minecraft and Fortnite.
“We’re helping families because some of them don’t have the resources, and it may be a choice between paying a bill and getting a cake,” Campbell said. “We want to remove that burden for them and be able to provide the cake that they want for their child. In other cases, it strengthens the bonds between a case worker and a child.”
Campbell’s branch of Cake4Kids is currently partnered with 117 organizations across the county, such as Fairfax County Public Schools, community centers, affordable housing nonprofits, immigration clinics and homeless and domestic violence shelters.
The collaborations help the chapter increase its reach and make a positive impact on as many families and children as possible — an impact that Campbell finds “hard to quantify.”
“I hear stories about the impact [Cake4Kids] has on families and children,” Campbell said. “I hear from schools how students are brought to tears when they realize they’ve just received a cake — families that are so relieved that they were able to give their child a cake that they too are brought to tears.”
Celebrating its four-year anniversary in May by delivering its 4,000th cake to a 14-year-old girl in Fairfax County, Campbell’s chapter has grown tremendously since its inception as a one-woman operation.
After baking 163 cakes in its first year, the chapter now has a hearty team of 750 volunteer bakers who successfully made 2,000 cakes in 2022. Its success relies on the dedication of a team of “heroes” who spend their free time baking and delivering cakes all across the county, Campbell says.
In many instances, the bakers never meet the children they baked a cake for, instead dropping the cake off with the organization, case worker or family who requested it. Campbell says this allows the child to build trust in and bond with their loved one without Cake4Kids imposing.
Even without the gratification of seeing in real time the often emotional reactions of those receiving the free cakes, her team of bakers continues to eagerly monitor their online portal for cake requests and get right to work when one comes through, according to Campbell.
“I can’t stress enough how many wonderful people we have in our chapter who work tirelessly to help us grow and get the word out there and help find more bakers and more agencies and raise funds,” Campbell said.
Campbell’s family has even joined her in the cause, she says, with her children and husband traveling all across Northern Virginia to handle many requests.
“It truly is a team effort. In fact, my son is on his way to Alexandria right now delivering cupcakes for me because I’m on crutches,” Campbell laughed.
Though she initially launched Cake4Kids in Fairfax County as a way to fill the free time she gained from her kids getting older and becoming more independent, Campbell’s charitable passion has turned into a full-time career. Several years ago, Campbell was promoted to a paid position running day-to-day operations at the nationwide level, which she does in addition to volunteering as a Northern Virginia ambassador, she says.
While the promotion means she focuses more on logistics and less on baking, Campbell still remains inspired by the creative ingenuity taken by her bakers after they receive a cake request. She says her favorite cake ever made featured “Spider-Man riding a unicorn.”
“I love it when a theme like that comes in because I can’t wait to see how these creative bakers are going to interpret that and put it on a cake,” Campbell said.
Looking ahead, Campbell hopes to continue spreading the word about Cake4Kids so the chapter can build more partnerships and more effectively “reach every child and family that wants to place a cake request with us,” she says.
“We’re always growing, we’re always looking for more bakers,” Campbell said. “We’re always looking for more families to help.”
A new magnatile-like structure now floats atop Lake Thoreau’s spillway in Reston.
The public art installation by South Lakes High School’s Science Technology Engineering Art Math (STEAM) club was installed in late June. Called “Rise,” the artwork was inspired by the rapid development of Reston.
The artwork represents the growth of Reston’s population and the rise of high-rises and other infrastructure, “abstractly” representing the community’s goals of “reaching new heights in progress, innovation and diversity,” the club said in a statement.
When Robert E. Simon, Jr. bought the land to develop Reston, it was rural farmland without access to downtown Washington, D.C. Simon dreamed of turning his planned community into a modern suburban utopia for residents and commuters alike. His dream would be realized decades later with the construction of Route 267, the Dulles Toll Road. Since then, Reston has grown from a nationally renowned, but relatively small, planned community, into a hotspot for international corporations and contemporary housing developments. Nevertheless, Reston retains its core values and remains an intertwined, multi-faceted place to live, a place like nowhere else. Rise represents the growing success of Reston, one that was founded on humble beginnings.
This is the club’s 11th year, with several artworks installed on the spillway since its founding. The group is led by advisor and SLHS art teacher Marco Rando in partnership with Public Art Reston and Reston Association.
This year’s artwork is also sponsored by the Lake Thoreau Entertainment Association, Mary and David Prochnow, Red’s Table restaurant, and supporters of the STEAM Team’s calendar fundraiser.
Rando said the installation was completed earlier than expected.
“This is more than just a work of art,” Rando said. “Its essential element is layers of collaborative relationships between STEAM students, Reston Association, Public Art Reston, and the community, who for the first individuals to pass by, provided major positive feedback. One such woman always loves to see bright colors on the art works, adding how well it accentuates Reston’s greenery.”
RISE is expected to remain afloat for the better part of the year.
Third Week of Traffic Safety Campaign Underway — “Road Shark is a high-visibility and coordinated enforcement and education effort to deter aggressive driving, reduce crashes, and change driving behavior…Last campaign, officers along with our Virginia State Police partners issued over 5,000 citations and warnings.” [FCPD]
Old Commanders Facility in Herndon Sold — “The Washington Commanders’ former Herndon practice facility, which the team left 31 years ago for Ashburn, has sold to the owner of a planned data center campus across the street.” The property at 13832 Redskin Drive was purchased for $25 million by “an affiliate of Starwood Capital Group, which in 2021 earned Fairfax County’s OK to develop a 2.2 million-square-foot, four-building data center campus on adjacent…land.” [Washington Business Journal]
Truck Hits Reston Parkway Ramp to Toll Road — “A truck traveling southbound on Reston Parkway to the eastbound entrance ramp to the Dulles Toll Road in Reston struck the bridge on Monday morning.” Reston Parkway’s left, southbound lane was closed while crews inspected the damage. [Patch]
Change to Spring Hill Development Gets McLean Group’s Support — “The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) board of directors passed a resolution July 5 supporting a proposed office-to-residential conversion in Tysons, but reiterated its concern that such projects adversely could impact school enrollment and demand for public services.” [Gazette Leader]
New Left Turn Lane Added at Fairfax Intersection — “The City of Fairfax announced Saturday that the second left turn lane at the Chain Bridge Road and Eaton Place intersection is now accessible.” The new lane is part of a larger overhaul of the congested intersection that the city anticipates “will be finished within the next 18 to 24 months.” [WTOP]
Latino Grocery Store Coming to Annandale — “Construction is underway on a Megamart Supermarket at 4415 John Marr Drive in Annandale. It’s going into a storefront that’s been vacant since Party Co. closed in March 2020. Megamart is a regional grocery chain specializing in Hispanic items with 11 stores in Virginia and Maryland.” [Annandale Today]
Great Falls Restaurant Recognized for Outdoor Dining — L’Auberge Chez Francois, a family-owned French restaurant at 3211 Springvale Road, was among three Northern Virginia restaurants to make the reservation system OpenTable’s 2023 list of the “100 Most Popular Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in America.” The list was determined by the site’s reviewers. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Metro Considers Blue Line Loop — “Late this year, Metro’s board will decide whether to embark on its biggest rail expansion since the Silver Line. Metro has long been studying solutions to capacity issues in the Rosslyn Tunnel under the Potomac River, and they include everything from just adding more buses to creating a dozen or more new stations and a new rail line in the next 20-plus years.” [DCist]
It’s Tuesday — Sunny, with a high near 90. Northwest wind around 6 mph. At night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. South wind 3 to 5 mph. [Weather.gov]
A new herb garden inspired by a 1910 classic on home remedies has officially opened at Colvin Run Mill in Great Falls.
The garden was started by Larry Herman, the master gardener on the board of Friends of Colvin Run Mill. He was inspired by the book, “Mother’s Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from the Mothers of the United States and Canada,” which offers guidance on how to grow and prep herbs to treat ailments by making teas, ointments, plasters, syrups and tinctures.
The garden officially opened up in early June. Friends of Colvin Run Mill are working with camps to teach children about homemaking in the late 1980s
“In addition to grinding corn and baking, they make butter and candles, pickle beets, etc,” a representative of the organization told FFXnow. “Recently we have redone the family garden with flowers. The medical garden is an extension of the educational program and garden renovations.”
Herbs in the garden include yarrow, hollyhock, chamomile, feverfew, parsley, peppermint and thyme. Stems of clematis, a flowering vine, were used to make rope to bind sheaves of grain in order to prevent mice from gnawing on it.
Located at 10017 Colvin Run Road, Colvin Run Mill is open every day from dawn to dusk and features a 19th-century, water-powered gristmill as its main attraction. The historic site also has the miller’s house and a general store.
Reston Association has a new chief operating officer to fill shoes long held by Larry Butler, who retired this year after more than 40 years with the association.
Peter Lusk took Butler’s place effective today (Monday), RA announced in a newsletter on Friday (July 7).
RA said Lusk brings more than 14 years of experience in facility operations, assessments, repair and replacement.
For one year, Lusk served as the first COO of national family law firm Whitbeck Bennett. Prior to that, he worked with Arlington County as the division chief for athletic and facilities services and a facility operations manager, according to his LinkedIn page.
RA said Lusk’s experience with “the fast-paced and very engaged Arlington community” helped prepare him to make “a smooth transition to the Reston community.”
“I am humbled and excited to begin serving as the new Chief Operating Officer for the Reston Association,” Lusk wrote in a statement. “I look forward to meeting the community, learning Reston, and building new relationships.”
Lusk has a master’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is a project management professional through the Project Management Institute.
RA CEO Mac Cummins said he looks forward to working with Lusk.
“His background is an excellent fit for us as the community interest around facility planning and renovation becomes more front and center,” Cummins wrote in a statement.
A Stafford man was arrested on Friday (July 7) in connection with the sexual battery of a woman in Chantilly and two other incidents that police say are related.
Fairfax County police arrested Hien The Dinh, 20, on charges of abduction and sexual battery. Police say he approached a woman in “broad daylight” on July 3 around 11:30 a.m. in the 14500 block of Northeast Place and forcefully grabbed her in an intimate area and put her in a chokehold.
The victim had been walking down the street with her mother, who went to visit a neighbor’s house before the incident happened, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said when announcing the arrest on Friday.
According to Davis, the woman screamed, alerting her mother, who was able to intervene and prevent an apparent abduction attempt.
Police believe Dinh was also involved in a May 18 incident around the same neighborhood. In that case, a man broke into a house on Iberia Circle and tried to sexually assault a woman who managed to escape and call the police.
Davis said Dinh has also been linked to a May 10 sexual battery incident at Northern Virginia Community College’s Loudoun County campus.
Davis described the suspect as a “predator.”
“I don’t know what you do with a person like this besides incarcerate him, because he’s going to offend again and again and again,” Davis said.
The FCPD circulated video surveillance footage of the area, along with a composite sketch of the suspect. They found his car in the 3900 block of Stonecroft Blvd.
“Throughout the week, detectives were able to link the vehicle to Dinh after reviewing hours of surveillance footage and observing the vehicle in the vicinity at the time of the incident,” FCPD wrote in a statement.
Police arrested Dinh as he left a business in the area and entered the car.
He is being held on no bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center on charges of abduction with the intent to defile and sexual battery. Davis said he anticipates more charges, as investigations continue in all three cases.
Over 20,000 Speeders Caught by School Zone Cameras — “Thousands of drivers have been caught speeding in the months since speed cameras were placed in school zones near eight Fairfax County…schools, according to police data obtained by WTOP. In total, 23,431 cars were caught going 10 or more miles per hour above the speed limit in April, May and June combined.” [WTOP]
Walt Whitman MS Assistant Punched Student, Police Say — “A 58-year-old teacher’s assistant in Fairfax County is charged with simple assault after allegedly punching a student in the face during an altercation…Investigators claim on the day of the assault, the student began arguing with the teacher and flicked his glasses.” [WUSA9]
Fairfax Homicide Suspect Had Assault Charges — “The man City of Fairfax Police charged with murder in the blunt force trauma homicide of city resident Luis Barahona Reyes, 50, was already facing charges of assaulting two police officers.” Aaron James Anthony Robertson was arrested in December for a disorderly conduct incident at Fair Oaks Mall, for which he’ll get a hearing in August. [Patch]
Virginia Deploys National Guard to Texas — “One hundred Virginia National Guard troops deployed to Texas on Saturday as Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) made good on his pledge to support Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott (R) in his efforts to patrol the border with Mexico…Democrats have accused Youngkin of using the troops in a political stunt” [The Washington Post]
Committee Recommends Limiting Screen Time for FCPS Students — “Fairfax County’s School Health Advisory Committee is recommending that the Virginia school system set districtwide guidelines for technology use by grade level and set a cap for the amount of time the youngest learners spend on screens every day.” [WTOP]
Metro Adds New Parking Payment Options — “No more searching for spare change to pay at Metro parking meters. New centralized pay stations and ParkMobile® are now available at all of Metro’s 63 Kiss & Ride and hourly lots and on-street parking spaces, expanding the ways customers can pay.” [WMATA]
FCPL Launches Virtual Cooking Contest for Teens — “The Fairfax County Public Library invites youths age 12-18 to show off their culinary skills by entering the Teen Chopped Challenge. To enter the contest, create an original recipe using three ‘mystery ingredients’: one can of black beans, one box of Jiffy corn mix, and one packet of Swiss Miss dark chocolate hot cocoa mix.” [Annandale Today]
Frank Lloyd Wright House Undergoes Renovation — “The Pope-Leighey House, an 84-year-old Frank Lloyd Wright creation located at the Woodlawn Plantation, is in the process of getting a new roof that will restore it more closely to its original architectural design.” The building was able to reopen for tours on July 1 while work on the roof continues. [On the MoVe]
It’s Monday — A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. At night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Northwest wind 3 to 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
A rendering of the future, renovated Lake Thoreau pool (courtesy RA)
Pool-goers will have to wait another pool season to enjoy Reston Association’s renovated Lake Thoreau and Shadowood pools.
In an announcement on Monday (July 3), RA said the Lake Thoreau pool (2040 Upper Lake Drive) will not reopen this season due to “unforeseen” repairs, site conditions, and delays associated with permitting and weather. The pool is expected to open next year, with anticipated grand reopening in the start of the new year.
The new, roughly $3.5 million facility will include a pool with six lap lanes, a ramp to provide ADA access, a redesigned deck, a larger 25-space parking lot, an overlook with a pollinator garden, and expanded bathhouses, which have been moved away from the spa.
“We regret this announcement as much work has been done and we were excited to share it with the membership,” RA wrote in a statement.
Work on Shadowood pool (2201 Springwood Drive) is expected to continue through the fall and winter. The project was delayed because of “unanticipated repairs” after the main pool was demolished, along with weather-related delays, according to RA.
The pool, first built in 1976, has been re-plastered several times. Major changes planned with the renovation include refurbishment of the pool, squaring, repairs to the bathhouse roof, flooring and exterior lighting, and the conversion of a wading pool into an interactive splash pad.
Construction costs hover around $1.1 million.
A spokesperson for RA did not immediately return a request for comment from FFXnow.
A Flood Watch is now in effect for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County.
The National Weather Service describes the chances of “slow-moving showers and thunderstorms” this afternoon into the early evening as “likely.”
Issued at 11:26 a.m., the alert will be in place until 8 p.m.
“A few inches of rain is possible in a short amount of time as a result, and may cause rapid rises of water on creeks, streams, urban and poor drainage areas, and in other flood-prone locations,” the NWS says.
Rain has become more plentiful in recent days after the D.C. region experienced drought conditions earlier this year. A storm on Wednesday (July 5) brought at least 1-4 inches of rain, according to the NWS, contributing to flooding and power outages, particularly in the central part of Fairfax County.
The full alert is below:
…FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING…
* WHAT…Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
* WHERE…Portions of DC, Maryland, and northern Virginia, including the following areas: in DC, District of Columbia. In Maryland, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Central and Southeast Howard, Central and
Southeast Montgomery, Charles, Frederick MD, Northern Baltimore, Northwest Harford, Northwest Howard, Northwest Montgomery, Prince Georges, Southeast Harford, and Southern Baltimore. In northern Virginia, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park, Eastern Loudoun, Fairfax, Northwest Prince William, Stafford and Western Loudoun.* WHEN…Until 8 PM EDT this evening.
* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– A couple rounds of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms are likely this afternoon into this evening. A few inches of rain is possible in a short amount of time as a result, and may cause rapid rises of water on creeks, streams, urban and poor drainage areas, and in other flood-prone locations.
A man who was hospitalized while in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center has died, triggering a police investigation.
Todd Matthew Gleason, 51, died Tuesday morning (July 4) just hours after a magistrate approved his release, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. He was taken to a hospital from the jail on Monday after telling sheriff’s deputies that he had “pain to his stomach and leg,” police said.
Gleason sustained injuries after being hit by a car, an incident that occurred before his arrest, according to the Fairfax County Office of the Public Defender, which was representing him.
Gleason was arrested on June 17 for a petit larceny that allegedly occurred on June 15, according to Fairfax County General District Court records. Mount Vernon District patrol officers also served him a warrant for failure to appear on a felony offense, the FCPD said Wednesday.
“There was no force used during Gleason’s arrest,” the department said. “Following his arrest, Gleason requested to be taken to the hospital for a preexisting injury. Officers facilitated his request, and he was medically cleared by hospital staff the same day.”
However, Gleason was still experiencing medical issues from his injuries while in custody at the Adult Detention Center, the public defender’s office says.
“Mr. Gleason continued to have medical issues from those injuries during his incarceration,” Fairfax Public Defender Dawn Butorac said by email. “He advised his attorneys of such and it is my understanding that he also advised the jail staff as well. It appears that his complaints were not taken seriously until July 3rd.”
That morning, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office requested an ambulance to take Gleason back to the hospital, according to the police.
Police say a magistrate granted Gleason a release on recognizance at 9:22 pm on Monday, July 3, a date confirmed to FFXnow by a General District Court clerk.
“Any medical complaints are taken seriously and fully addressed by our medical team,” Casey Lingan, general counsel for the sheriff’s office, said.
Noting that the county jail “is nationally accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care,” Lingan said the office can’t provide any information about medical care given to individuals in the facility, citing confidentiality laws under HIPAA and the Code of Federal Regulations.
An autopsy to determine the manner and cause of Gleason’s death is being conducted by Northern Virginia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The final results could take 12 or more weeks, depending on the complexity of the case, according to the office.
Fairfax County court records show a string of previous charges against Gleason, dating back to Oct. 24, 2020. It’s unclear whether any of them resulted in convictions.
The charges are mostly misdemeanors, including multiple petit larcenies, trespassing, public intoxication and failures to appear in court. There are two felony drug possession charges, most recently for an April 8 offense, and one felony for wearing a mask.
Gleason had been scheduled for an adjudicatory hearing on Sept. 14.
The Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney said it had no comment on the case at this time, but called Gleason’s death “a tragedy.”
No other deaths have been reported at the county jail this year, but three people died while incarcerated last year.
That includes 65-year-old George Redmond and 55-year-old Kyung Pil Chang, who died within two days of each other in late March 2022. Glenn Meyer, who was charged in a Pimmit Hills shooting in 2020, died last July after a medical emergency, police said at the time.
(Updated at 5:25 p.m.) A 37-year-old man was fatally shot last night (Thursday) at a parking garage in Herndon’s Arrowbrook Centre development.
The Fairfax County Police Department identified the victim this afternoon (Friday) as Robert Fisher of Chantilly. A 40-year-old man from Herndon, Major Feheem Stokes, was arrested yesterday as the suspect.
In a briefing at 2:23 a.m, Lt. James Curry with the FCPD’s public affairs bureau said Stokes may be Fisher’s brother, but police now describe him as “a known associate.”
“We’re still actively investigating to determine the circumstances that led to this shooting,” Curry said. “But preliminarily, we determined there was some sort of disagreement and argument that led to the fatal shooting…The adult suspect, a 40-year-old man, remains in custody.”
A woman who identified herself as the victim’s daughter called 911 shortly after 11 p.m., reporting that her father was shot and “bleeding out” at 13310 Launders Street, a dispatcher said at 11:08 a.m., per scanner traffic on Open MHz.
According to the dispatcher, the woman told 911 that her uncle “was on the scene but left,” stating that she heard the shots but “didn’t see what happened.”
When officers responded to the garage, they found a man with gunshot wounds to the upper body on the top floor of the garage, according to Curry.
“They attempted first aid, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries,” Curry said.
While officers were canvassing the area, Stokes called 911 and identified himself as the shooter, the FCPD says. He was located and taken into custody at a townhome in the 13300 block of Coppermine Road.
Stokes faces charges of second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
As of the 2:23 a.m. briefing, no weapon had been recovered, according to Curry.
“We continue to execute search warrants, interview witnesses as well as other community members that were nearby,” he said.
Watch here for the update from the scene. Prelim, the victim & suspect were known to each other and may be related. Suspect in custody and updates will be provided later today. pic.twitter.com/XANDUAmpCS
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) July 7, 2023
Virginia Removes Resources for LGBTQ Youth — “The administration of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) quietly took down LGBTQ+ youth resources from a state website after a conservative media outlet questioned the links, records show, building on a pattern of removals derided by public health employees who say their work is being politicized.” [The Washington Post]
Fair Lakes Decor Store to Close — “World Market in the Fair Lakes Shopping Center is supposed to close on July 15, but will likely close sooner because the store is running out of inventory…World Market may be replaced by Savers Value Village, a thrift store chain that trades on the New York Stock Exchange.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Oakton Stormwater Pond Repairs to Resume — “Work on the Circle Woods Pond project at East Blake Lane Park in Fairfax will resume on Monday, according to a post on Twitter by Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik. The project was put on hold in April after workers discovered a hawk’s nest containing eggs in a tree slated for removal.” [Patch]
County to Open Waitlists for Subsidized Senior Housing — “On Monday, July 10, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. through Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 11:59 p.m., applicants 62 years and older may register at Rent Café, an online housing portal, for an opportunity to be placed on waiting lists for Project-Based Voucher (PBV) units.” Waitlists will open for properties in McLean, Reston, Rose Hill and Hybla Valley. [FCRHA]
Public Agencies Take “Wait and See” Approach to Twitter — “Limits on how many tweets a Twitter user can read in a day caught many off guard last week, including D.C.-area public agencies that rely on the social media site to communicate with those they serve.” A Fairfax County police spokesperson said the department will “continue to utilize Twitter,” along with Fairfax Alerts and other social media platforms. [WTOP]
Herndon Office Buildings Owner Defaults on Loan — “The owner of the properties at 2551 and 2553 Dulles View Drive, Gemini Rosemont Realty, was unable to refinance or sell the property ahead of the April 1 maturity date for its $51.2M CMBS loan…The 356K SF office property near Dulles International Airport has seen its occupancy fall from 94% when the loan was issued in 2013 to 80% this year” [Bisnow]
Robinson SS Alum Wins Regional Emmy — “Congratulations to Robinson SS alum and FCPS video producer Mark F. Jones, who won his first Emmy for the entry ‘To the Beat of His Own Drum’ in the ‘Video Essayist’ category. The video follows Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School student Michael Gouin’s experience as a drummer who is deaf.” [FCPS/Facebook]
Toy Sale Coming to Herndon — “The Closet Of The Greater Herndon Area is hosting a toy sale Saturday, July 15, at the Herndon Moose Lodge. Shoppers and toy collectors will be able to purchase a variety of vintage toys, including Fisher Price, Little People, Transformers, preschool toys, American Girl dolls, games, porcelain dolls, trains and more.” [Patch]
It’s Friday — A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. At night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 30%. [Weather.gov]
Users of the Town of Herndon’s website may notice some design and usability changes later this month.
The town is set to debut its revamped website on July 17. The upgrade — which is the first major redesign since 2016 — has been in the works since last fall.
Anne Curtis, the town’s spokesperson, said the new site aligns with the Herndon Town Council’s imperative to be “as inclusive and comprehensive as possible in communicating to town citizens and businesses.”
“The new website came about following a lot of analysis and feedback from users on the town’s current site; what works, what doesn’t, and ways we can improve,” she said by email.
The town hired the software company Granicus under a $54,000 contract to complete the work. Previous surveys of Herndon residents and website users found a desire for more visible department buttons, optimized search results and fewer drop-down menus.
The update will include more information that visitors wanted accessible directly from the home page, a more prominent search feature, graphic icons associated with the most-visited pages, and more prominent meetings and events pages.
The site will also include a new service finder feature that directs users to specific town services.
In addition, the new site will have the capacity to be translated into Spanish and other languages and meet ADA compliance requirements, Curtis said.
Defending civil liberties and advancing childhood education are among the top priorities cited by the Republican candidate for the District 7 state delegate seat.
Luellen Hoffman Maskeny, a Reston resident and educator, is the official GOP nominee for the seat, which will mostly represent the area currently held by retiring Del. Ken Plum. She will face Democratic nominee Karen Keys-Gamarra in the Nov. 7 general election.
Hoffman Maskeny says she was compelled to seek candidacy after she saw “political changes that should not have been made” during the pandemic.
“The schools never needed to close and that was a big mistake,” Hoffman Maskeny told FFXnow in a statement. “Now the children are 2 1/2 years behind in their studies, which is not good, but I have a plan to help them catch up.”
Born in Portsmouth, Hoffman Maskeny says she grew up in Northern Virginia, and when she got married, she moved to Reston, where she stayed until relocating to Fairfax in 2003. She moved back to Reston in June 2022.
With a professional background in sales and recruiting, she graduated from George Mason University, where she previously worked as an adjunct professor. She has a master’s degree in communications from George Washington University, according to her LinkedIn page.
She is the mother of two sons. Her husband died of respiratory failures and complications related to surgery in 1994. She also wrote the book “Special Dream,” which features more than 80 stories of individuals who lost a loved one.
“I know how hard it is being a single parent, and the challenges all parents face today, but I have hope that we can work together to do better for the children’s sake and see real improvements,” she said.
She describes her legislative priorities as “defending civil liberties” and “protecting women’s sports,” presumably referring to efforts to ban transgender people from participating in sports based on their gender identity. However, Hoffman Maskeny didn’t elaborate on either priority when asked by FFXnow.
“These girls have worked too hard for too long in reaching their achievements, only to have it taken away from them,” she said.
Maskeny says she also wants to ensure that parents are involved in public schools, in addition to ensuring pornography in books is kept out of public schools.
Fairfax County Public Schools removed two books centered on LGBTQ characters from high school library shelves in 2021 after a parent complained that they had graphic sexual content not suitable for children. The books were later restored after a review.
“It is important to keep our schools safe with extra security measures. There is no need for our children to be ‘sitting ducks’ if there is an active shooter on the school grounds or for girls to be raped in the bathrooms,” she said.
According to her LinkedIn page, Maskeny was the director of exhibits for the National Defense Industrial Association from 2006 through 2017. She has worked as a director of sales at a South Carolina-based IT company for the last six years.
Maskeny’s campaign website is currently under construction.
TGI Friday’s Might Leave Fair Lakes — “Bradenton, Florida-based First Watch on June 26 filed a food establishment application for 12249 Fair Lakes Promenade, where Friday’s has operated for roughly the last 15 years.” A spokesperson for First Watch, which serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, confirmed that the restaurant chain has been looking for a Fair Lakes location, but no lease has been signed yet. [Washington Business Journal]
Thousands in D.C. Area Disenrolled From Medicaid — “Thousands across the D.C.area have lost Medicaid coverage in recent months, as pandemic protections that allowed people to stay enrolled without reapplying came to a close. Known as ‘Medicaid unwinding,’ states are resuming annual Medicaid eligibility reviews, meaning many thousands more may lose their insurance over the next year.” [DCist]
Sexual Assault Cases May Be Linked — “Police are investigating a possible connection between two sexual assault cases in the same neighborhood of Chantilly.” Fairfax County police say an assault of a woman in the 14500 block of Northeast Place on Monday may be linked to a May 18 assault at a house on Iberia Circle. [WTOP]
Fairfax County to Encourage Murals — “Fairfax County planners are developing a murals program to bring excitement to the county’s redevelopment areas, such as Annandale and Bailey’s Crossroads/Seven Corners…They could be on publicly owned or privately owned buildings, Padmore says, but commercial messages won’t be allowed.” [Annandale Today]
Metro Sees Highest Fourth of July Rail Ridership in Eight Years — “Metrorail celebrated the Independence Day holiday with preliminary ridership topping 410,000, a level not seen since 2015. With fare-free service after 5 p.m. and a boost in service to accommodate the influx of customers, rail ridership was up 61 percent over last year.” [WMATA]
FCPD Cracks Down on Drunk Driving — “The Fairfax County Police Department’s Summer Crime Prevention Team in July will focus enforcement on people who are driving while under the influence.” Throughout the month, officers will “saturate areas of high crashes and look for impaired drivers.” [Gazette Leader]
How the Silver Line Has Changed the Dulles Corridor — “The changes have come based on decades of planning by local governments maximizing the potential of the Silver Line to become sought-after commercial centers and multipurpose areas where people can work, live, play and be connected by trains to Arlington, DC and Largo, Maryland.” [Tysons Today]
Local Nonprofit Seeks Drivers for Seniors — “Shepherd’s Center of McLean-Arlington-Falls Church is seeking volunteers to join a team of 60 drivers to take seniors to medical and dental appointments or run errands to grocery stores and pharmacies. The center has seen an increase in the total number of rides needed by seniors in recent years.” [Patch]
It’s Thursday — A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 40%. At night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 30%. [Weather.gov]
